Go Hathuru..!

(Rajidu Kashyapa)

Again things are getting unfolded to talk about World Cup Cricket Tournament. That was with Sri Lanka getting a great victory over the recently concluded Bangladesh Tournament by 3-0.

This was recorded as a winning of a tournament in Sri Lanka after 44 months. It is nearly 4 years. The last tournament we won was against West Indies. It was in 2015 This Tournament began with the worm up of the conclusion of the World Cup Cricket Tournament. Eventhough there was no much attention with the results of the World Cup, many made it a topic to talk about with Lasith Malinga retiring from One day Cricket.

We talked about Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara last week. Hence there is no need to talk about them again. But the Bangladesh Tournament reminds us a lot. The key point is whether the team, represented Sri Lanka at the World Cup was the most suitable. The players and extras who played the ICC World Cup were not included to the Bangladesh Pool. Specialist Spinner, Jefry Vanderse was not included in the team against Bangladesh. All-rounder, Jeewan Mendis and Milinda Siriwardena were not included to the team against Bangladesh. The extra player, Anjelo Perera who was included to the team against England too was not. Instead, Akila Dhananjaya, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya and Lahiru Kumara are in to the fight against Bangladesh.

What is the measurement for this selection? Lahiru Kumara is the bowler who has the same bowling speed of Lasith Malinga. Dasun Shanaka is a competent an all-rounder. Shehan Jayasuriya is an asset to be used as an all-rounder in the future. Wanidu Hasaranga Kasun Rajitha too are in that capacity. But Akila is suspicious. Since when he had to change the pattern of bawling after the accusation that he is chucking, still he has not been able to get the proper aim. These things are not so much for a writer. Since there are expert in the field for that purpose.

It is Asantha De Mell who is the nominated Giant by Sri Lanka Cricket. He is the Chairman of the Selection Committee and the Manager of the team. He is the fast bowler who had a vast experience in the field. He was the person how joined Sri Lanka Cricket by assuring that he will do a more important role to Sri Lankan Cricket. The other veteran in selection is Coacher Chandika Hathurusinghe. He is the only Coacher who had the most power and authority that was never given to anyone in the Selection Committee.

Hence I request you to evaluate the team that participated at the World Cup who were selected by these two with high authority and the team played against Bangladesh You can easily understand where we failed. The Competent Authority of Sri Lankan Sports, Minister Haren Fernando has already started the war to sack all the Coachers and the Members of the Selection Committee as if he had realized this issue. But though not direct, the rumors going here and there say that Hathurusinghe is not prepared to simply move out, deviating from the Agreement. He has another 16 months. The payment he is going to receive for this duration is not pretty. Hence it is pretty clear that he is not ready at all to lose that sum.

We too do not want to lose any dues to us. We will not remain silent if there is an effort for it. Hathurusinghe came to Sri Lanka as a hop of whole Cricket community. But it vanished within a matter of blinking eyes. The talents showed by Hathurusinghe at Bangladesh was not visible here. When the analysis of the weaknesses of the team was done from a player to player, we just had the option of accepting it.

He went deep in to the hop of Cricket in that manner. He was Surgeon of Cricket who could feel the pulse of our weaknesses. We thought that Sri Lankan Cricket will get healed. But what happened was to ultimately pay by Dollars to Hathurusinghe for his analytical reports. It was according to the agreement. It can be only Sri Lanka Cricket in the whole world to pay for the Analytical reports done by a Coacher. It was while paying a salary that is not affordable to our country with other facilities. Sport Minister’s effort is to stop that. To correct the mistakes of the training given for a large lump sum.

According to him there are 3 Coachers on whom he had paid attention. Harin Fernando says that he can hire 2 Coachers from the amount, paid to Hathurusinghe. Whatever it is, the intention of Sri Lanka Cricket as well as Harin Fernando is to terminate Hathurusinghe. If not, to offer him some other suitable post. Whatever the decision taken, Hathurusinghe takes precedence over it. Since the agreement he entered with Sri Lanka Cricket is more powerful. It is sure that Hathurusinghe arrived here from Bangladesh not to lick the palm. He will leave Sri Lanka when he gets another opportunity. He came to Sri Lanka too with the same intention. With more salary, more facilities and more authority.

The Cricket Authority would have offered all these things according the state of Cricket , prevailed at that time. Cricket Authority had no any other option. Hathurusinghe would have felt it more than anyone else. When Sri Lanka Cricket Authority did not allow him to participate at an important event in is Coaching Career, he vacated his position and started displaying his high performance from that point onward. He could attract others after many years of dedication. Because of that Hathurusinghe will not be ready to give up something because of the idea of one or two.

The other hand there is no such theory to do so ether. But at this juncture Hathurusinghe also should realize by himself that he failed rather than waiting anyone else to say that. If there was a reason for his failure, that is his responsibility to high light who or what it was. Because that this is his colors that are fading.

(Rawaya)